UPD Taking a Break
Utah Policy Daily is going to be on spring break next week. While we’re vacationing we will have some Internet access, and we will produce and send the newsletter each day, but it might be a more basic version without the full complement of features that we usually produce.
Support for Huntsman’s Flatter Tax
The Utah Taxpayers Association has posted its April newsletter and it’s worth a read for anyone interested in tax policy. This month's edition features an article on charter school revenues and expenditures, and a piece by Assoc. Pres. Howard Stephenson on education funding.
In addition, the newsletter features a Taxpayers Association analysis of the reduction in top marginal state income tax rates nationwide. The analysis "justifies support for Governor Huntsman's flatter income tax proposal," which calls for a lower personal income tax rate and a broader base. The flatter income tax will be the main subject of an expected special legislative session, possibly in May, if the governor and legislative leaders can reach consensus.
A Vote for Oink, Oink Pork
I’m in favor of getting all the pork we can get. I think the federal budget is way out of control and the federal budget process is a disaster. I would welcome reform to eliminate or reduce the pork “earmarks,” and I would cheer a big overall reduction in the federal budget even if it hurts Utah (along with everyone else).
But as long as the system is the way it is, and as long as crucial projects in Utah depend on federal funding, then our congressional delegation ought to in the middle of the slop fight, rooting around for all we can get. In other words, no unilateral disarmament, no holier-than-thou rejection of federal money based on some naive “principle.”
After noting an item about Utah being ranked 18th in amount of pork received, UPD reader Andy Wilson sent in this response:
“See, we all love when OUR guy brings home bacon, but pork spending. . . ooh, how we HATE it!! It reminds me an aphorism BYU political science professor Kelly Patterson often said: ‘Pork: it's what's in the other guy's district.’"
I fully agree. Every member of Congress fights for appropriations that benefit his or her state or district. We need to be aggressive in obtaining our share. We need money for our highways, our transit system, our universities, and our non-profit institutions.
The truth is, the federal budget system needs dramatic reform. Congress can’t get budgets passed and can’t balance its budget. It uses all kinds of phony accounting procedures that wouldn’t be tolerated in Utah government or in a private corporation. I’d love to see real reform, including a lot of devolution to the states.
But for now, with the system we have, our delegation ought to be fighting for as much federal bacon as we can get. Oink, oink.
Washington Watch
Hatch Seat 24th in Vulnerability
National Journal’s Chuck Todd has Sen. Orrin Hatch’s seat ranked 24th in vulnerability among 33 U.S. Senate races this ear. In other words, he’s quite safe. (See rankings).
Hatch to Bush: Weigh in on Immigration
Sen. Orrin Hatch says: "If [Pres. Bush] weighed in more [on the immigration reform debate], it would be easier to get consensus. As long as one side or the other wants to play politics with it, we'll never accomplish anything."(Associated Press); Hatch introduces legislation to help Utah and other Western states address chronic public education funding gaps (see press release).
Ogden Teen Receives EPA Award
Ogden's Brent Singleton receives the EPA's Clean Air Excellence Award for "showing major corporations that energy efficient and environmentally friendly cars are an option" (see press release); EPA cites Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Farmers Association $5,200 for improperly distributing and selling a restricted use pesticide to a non-certified applicator, a violation of federal pesticide law (see press release).
Podcast Watch
Here’s this week’s rundown for Jennifer Napier-Pearce’s InsideUtah.com podcast, named Utah’s best podcast by none other than City Weekly: FairVote’s Rob Richie on reforming elections (1:00); vegetarian chef Ian Brandt on Utah’s growing vegan profile (6:33); artist Michael Moonbird on kids and design (11:09); and piano man Eric Mangum on tickling the ivory at the Tavernacle (15:00).
Blog Watch
At the Senate Site blog, Sen. Lyle Hillyard defends legislative budget from newspaper critic and says: "If there is a reincarnation after this life, I hope I can come back as a member of a newspaper editorial board"... The Utah Amicus has a post on the Tooele County Democratic Convention... Utah Centralist says: "Government should not be telling people how to live their lives and the Sutherland Institute should not be going around trying to legislate its point of view" (see also here)... Senate candidate Pete Ashdown has a post about his campaign motorhome... Utah Conservative conducted an email survey with House candidate Stephen Sandstrom... Jim Bennett has a post on Utah education spending... Wilf Sommerkorn discusses the Alpine charter school proposal... Jesse Michael Nix defends Larry H. Miller.
UDOT Open House
The Utah Department of Transportation will hold a public open house on Tuesday, April 11 to officially kick off its Main Street reconstruction project in Brigham City (see press release).
Casual Friday
DWR to Assist Casual Friday
The communications folks at the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources have noticed our Casual Friday feature and they’ve volunteered to produce some material. As an old fishing/hunting/camping/hiking guy (although I haven’t been hunting for years and don’t have time for much fishing), I welcome their help.
Big Game Permit Numbers Approved
Utah Wildlife Board made a lot of key decisions at its April 6 meeting regarding the number of big game hunting permits (numbers are mostly higher). Check the DWR’s information and new pages for the latest information.
Spring Fishing Heats Up at Lake Powell
By Lynn Chamberlain
The weather and the striper and largemouth bass fishing are warming up at Lake Powell. It’s time to grab your fishing gear and make a trip to the lake for some of the year’s best fishing.
The water temperature at the lake has reached a point where fishing deep, cold water for stripers in the morning is really good.
To find success, motor to one of the lower canyons, such as Gun Sight, Warm Creek or Rock Creek. Once you’ve reached one of these canyons, move towards the end of the canyon, where the walls start to narrow. Then start graphing for schools of fish or just troll a deep diver back and forth until you find a school of resting stripers. When you catch a fish, remember the spot and troll back over it again and again. The stripers don’t move much, and you should catch more stripers near the same spot on the your next pass.
Anglers are also taking lots of stripers at the barrier in front of the dam. If you fish this location, try suspending anchovies beneath your boat about 20 to 80 feet deep.
One good thing to come out of the recent drought and low water levels at Lake Powell is new plant growth that occurred as the water receded along the shorelines. Weeds, willows and other plants grew rapidly in the areas exposed to the sun and air as the water level dropped. Now the rising water level has flooded this lush growth, and that has provided outstanding habitat for largemouth bass.
As the water warms in the middle of the day, move to the back of the canyons and fish for bass near the submerged plants and the tumbleweeds that collect there. Use a Rattle-trap or similar lure, and you’ll likely turn up a fat bass or two. This same method will also be effective for stripers as the water warms.
Spring fishing at Lake Powell is loads of fun. As the water continues to rise and warm, the methods for success will change, however. Don’t worry about knowing which techniques to use later in the year. Just visit www.wayneswords.com and read the weekly fishing report from Division of Wildlife Resources’ biologist Wayne Gustaveson. Wayne will tell you everything you need to know to have loads of fun at Lake Powell throughout the year. |
